Typewriting machine



Dec. 4, 1934. 1.. c. MYERS 1,983,482

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVIZINTOR LewLS CMyers w a fi m 5' 3 a an 83 :q n N ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1934. c. MYERS 1,983,482

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1934 s Sheets- Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR Q j p ewis C.Myer% Wvww ATTORNEYS Dec. 4; 1934. L, MYER 1,983,482

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV ENTOR ewis GMyers ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STA TYPEWRI'IING MACHINE Lewis 0. 1V Iyers, Freeport, N. Y., assignor to Royal Typewriter Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 28, 1934, Serial No. 722,976

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in typewriting machines generally, although more particularly to a machine wherein all of the type actions are spring connected to a common anchor which is adjustable to vary the strengths of the springs to suit the individual operator, such as is shown in the patent to Dowd, et a1. 1,457,620, June 5, 1923.

Among the several objects of the invention are to provide an indicator connected to the common anchor for the type action springs whereby an operator may easily determine whether to increase or decrease the spring tension to suit her needs; and to provide an indi- 15 cater for this purpose which is not only visible exteriorly of the machine but is also simple in construction and durable in operation.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail horizontal section showing the type bars, the type action springs, the common anchor for. the springs, the means for adjusting the anchor, and the indicator connected 25 to the anchor, the casing which contains the spring adjusting means being omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the irregular line 3--8 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the anchor for the type bar springs, and also the indicator pointer and the connections between the pointer and the anchor.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. v 35 Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified form of spring adjusting means and the indicator pointer.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the modification of the anchor shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the preferred form of anchor'adjusting means.

Figure 9 is a cross section 99-of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary rear view showing the recess at the bottom of the casing and the relation of the handwheel thereto.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of plate with scale indicia thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated my invention as being applied to a Royal standard typewriting machine, although it will be understood that the invention may be applied equally well to other known machines.

The typewriting machine includes a main frame A havingside walls 5 and 6 and a rear wall 7. Located within the main frame and pivotally supported in the usual manner is a w plurality of type bars 8 which are operated typewriting taken on the line through the usual connections which include I key levers 9 fulcrumcd on ,a horizontal axis 10 and intermediate levers 11, the latter being connected to the heels of the associated type bars by links 12. A universal bar 13 is pivoted in rear of the type bars 8 and a link 14 pivotally connects each intermediate lever arm 11 with saiduniversal bar 13. Surrounding each link is the usual coil spring 15 having its forward end fixed to the link and having its rear end connected to an anchor 16. As shown this anchor 16 comprises a plate which is located within the machine, frame and normally extends in a vertical plane parallel to the rear wall 7. This plate is fulcrumed intermediate its top and bottom on lugs 1'7, 17 which are secured to the rear plate 7. Normally the springs 15 exert a rearward pull on the intermediate lever arms 11 to thereby normally retain the key levers against depression and the type bars in their rest positions.

The anchor plate 16 is adjustable to and fro of the machine in order to collectively vary the tensions of the springs 15 and thereby vvary the touch of the type actions. For this purpose an adjusting screw 18 is provided at the rear of the machine. The screw 18 is mounted within a vertical casing 19 which is rectangular in horizontal cross section. Attached to the rear wall 7 of the main frame by screws 19 is a plate 20 having front and rear upstanding flanges 21, 22, the former being provided with a slot 23 having parallel vertical walls. The screw 18 is provided with flat sides which cooperate with the side walls of the slot 23 to prevent the screw from turning but permit longitudinal movement thereof. Aninteriorly threaded sleeve 24 surrounds the screw 18, the forward end of the sleeve bearing against the flange 21 and the rear end of the sleeve being provided with a handwheel 25 the hub of which bears against the flange 22. The wheel 25 extends downwardly into registry with a recess'26 formed in the rear wall of the casing 19 whereby access to the wheel is readily provided. When the wheel is rotated the sleeve24 will be rotated but will not be moved longitudinally, and inasmuch as the sleeve has threaded engagement with the screw 18, the latter will be moved longitudinally but will not be rotated. Consequently upon rotation of the wheel 25 the screw 18 will be moved either forwardly or rearwardly.-

The screw 18 projects through an opening 27in the rear wall '7 of the 'main frame and bears against the rear face of the anchor plate 16 at a pointv below the fulcrum thereof. Consequently when the screw 18 is moved forwardly the combined tensions of the springs 15 will be increased; and when the screw is moved-rearward-.-

ly the combined tensions of the springs will be correspondingly decreased.

In order to indicate to the operator the amount of the combined tensions of the springs 15, I have connected an indicatormeans with the anchor 16 and have arranged the indicator so that it may bereadily observed from a point exterior of the machine. To this end the side wall 5 of the machine frame is provided with a rectangular opening which in one form is closed by a removable transparent plate 28 of glass or the like. This transparent plate is mounted within a sheet metal frame 29, the rear face of the plate being covered with opaque material 30. The transparent plate 28 together with the opaque material is secured within the frame 29 by clips 31 extending from the frame and overlying the plate, and the entirety is removably attached to the wall 5 by clips 29 extending from the frame. The opaque material is provided with an arcuate shaped sight opening or slot 32. An indicator finger or pointer 33, which is rockable upon a fulcrum 34 mounted within the machine frame, registers with the sight opening 32 and its amount of oscillation is readily viewed through said sight opening. A rock arm 35 is fixed to the indicator pointer 33 and is longitudinally slotted as at 36 to receive one end of an arm 37 fixed to and extending laterally from the anchor plate 16. Consequently when the anchor plate 16 is adjusted about its fulcrum, the arm 37 will have sliding engagement in the slot 36 and thereby swing the indicator pointer 33 a proportionate amount. Associated with the sight opening 32 is a scale 38, said scale being preferably a decalcomania transfer on the inner face of the transparent plate 28. Normally the indicator pointer 33 is located centrally between the ends of the sight opening 32 so that the operator may readily see whether the tension of the springs 15 should be increased or decreased to effect the desired touch to the type-action.

In Figures 6 and 7, I have illustrated a modifled means for adjusting the anchor plate 16. This means comprises a screw 39 which extends rearwardly through and has threaded engagement with the lower portion of the plate. The rear end of the screw bears against the front face of the rear wall 'I of the main frame, and the front end of the screw is provided with a handwheel 40. By turning the screw in a clockwise direction the upper end of the plate will be swung rearwardly and the tension of the springs 15 will be increased proportionately. The indicator pointer 41 is rigidly attached to the anchor plate to move therewith, .and the free end of the pointer is positioned in proper cooperative relation to the sight opening or slot 32.

In Figure 11, I have illustrated a sheet metal. plate 28" which may be employed for closing the opening in the side wall 5. This plate is provided with an arcuate opening 32'? which may or may not be covered by transparent material, and placed on the plate adjacent the opening 32 is a scale 38.

It will be understood that other forms of plates having scale indicia associated therewith, may be employed if desired.

I'claim:-

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with type bar actions, of an anchor plate pivoted intermediate its ends, springs connecting the type actions with the anchor at points above the pivot thereof, means cooperating with the plate below the pivot thereof for adjusting the latter to collectively vary the tension of the meanest springs, and an indicator separate from the anchor adjusting means connected to the anchor for indicating the tension of the springs.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a main frame, of type bar actions mounted within the frame, an anchor plate pivoted intermediate its ends mounted within the frame, springs connecting the type bar actions with the anchor at points above the pivot thereof, means cooperating with the plate below the pivot thereof for adjusting the latter to collectively vary the tension of the springs, and an indicator separate from the anchor adjusting means connected to the anchor and visible exteriorly of the machine frame for indicating the tension of the springs.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a main frame including a side wall having scale indicia thereon, of type bar actions mounted within the frame, an anchor plate pivotally mounted within the frame, springs connecting the type bar actions with the anchor at points above the pivot thereof, means cooperating with the plate below thev pivot thereof for adjusting the anchor to collectively vary the tension of the springs, an indicator pointer fulcrumed on the machine frame and registering with the scale indicia, and connections between the anchor and the pointer for swinging the latter relative to the indicia upon adjustment of the former.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a main frame including a side wall having a transparent arcuate area and scale indicia associated with said area, of type bar actions mounted within the frame, an adjustable anchor pivotally mounted within the frame, springs connecting the type bar actions with the anchor, means for adjusting the anchor to collectively vary the tension of the springs, and an indicator pointer connected to the anchor and swingable in unison therewith, said pointer being separate from said spring adjusting means said pointer being located within the main frame and registering with the area and movable lon- 'gitudinally thereof upon adjustment of said anchor.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a main frame including a side wall having a transparent arcuate area and scale indicia associated with said area, of type bar actions mounted within the frame, an adjustable anchor pivotally mounted within the frame, springs connecting the type bar actions with the anchor, means for adjusting the anchor to collectively vary the tension of the springs, an indicator pointer fulcrumed on and located within the machine frame and registering with the area, and connections between the anchor and the pointer for swinging the latter upon adjustment of the former.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a main frame including a side wall having an arcuate slot and scale indicia associated with said slot, of type bar actions mounted within the frame, an adjustable anchor pivotally mounted within the frame, springs connecting the type bar actions with the anchor, means for adjusting the anchor to collectively vary the tension of the springs, an indicator pointer fulcrumed on the machine frame and registering with the slot, a slotted rock arm fixed to said pointer, and an arm fixed to the anchor and having slidable engagement in the slot of said arm.

LEWIS C. MYERS. 

